Community

On 29 June 2015, Awanmulan, located on Pantai Hill Resort, Seremban and also a ‘TripAdvisor Category Winner for 2015’ – deleted 2 comments on their facebook page, which provided constructive commentary on their business culture.

This is a big shameful blow to the brand of Awanmulan. Supporters of Awanmulan please be aware that the issues surrounding Pantai Hill and how Awanmulan runs its business has been censored from YOU. Just like many profit oriented operations, the truth is kept hidden (a PR strategy), to avoid bad publicity and a negative backlash from customers.

Awanmulan in their posting on Facebook declares their concern for the environment and their empathy for the surrounding community of Pantai Hill. Is this mere ‘lip-service’ to make them look good to customers? How can they claim to be ‘concerned’ when comments on how they operate and suggestions for them to improve has been completely CENSORED!

Below is prove of their recent behaviour: screen shot of 2 postings on their facebook page and within hours, they were deleted. Even the ability to comment on Awanmulan facebook has been taken out. This is how afraid they are to face genuine issues regarding their operations that affect their immediate neighbours. Instead of choosing to solve them together, Awanmuan has chosen the dark side, the path of censorship and dumbing down the audience and customers – by blocking information.

Awanmulan Facebook comments censored from public viewing. This comment has been deleted.

Another Awanmulan Facebook comment censored from public viewing. This comment has been deleted.

All is not lost. Sometimes people make mistakes or make defensive moves that blow up in their faces. As we have always maintained, we do not seek to ‘catch people’ and we do not seek to make enemies. We are always open to meet up and talk about how we can all move forward while sharing this wonderful Pantai Hill together. 🙂

This techno party, hosted by The Shorea on Pantai Hill resorts- started in the late afternoon of 29 June 2015. As the repetitive music bounced and banged its way through the jungle trees and the serene valley below, guests from other nearby resorts and resident neighbours felt its over bearing imposition. THIS is MADNESS!

The Shorea – hosting a techno party in Pantai Hill resorts. High volume of cars parked outside with no consideration for noise affecting neighbours

How can this happen again!!?? Don’t The Shorea owners have any consideration for their neighbours? or are they so blinded by capitalist rewards $$$$$$$$ that their hearts have been hardened into stone…till they feel nothing, like a serial rapist picking on another victim… with no remorse.

Calls and smses to the owners of The Shorea did not yield any response. The manager of The Shorea said she received NO instructions from the owners to do anything about the noise.

Police arriving to investigate extreme noise complaints and drug use from party goers at The Shorea

Desperate, some neighbours visited The Shorea to intervene directly. It was obvious then that these young kids were high on ‘party drugs’. They agreed to turn the music down, but soon after, the volume was back up and it went on till midnight. The local Police came to investigate, after they left the music came back albeit ‘softer’ and went on all night.

At 8.30am this morning the music volume was bumped up again!!!

The Police have now sent in a narcotics team for urine testing.

The Police truck arrives to haul-up party goers at The Shorea for urine testing.

Volunteers of the Pantai Hill Community, cleaning up a dumpsite by river.

> A good start to our first Pantaihillwatch.org community river dump cleanup project.
> Collected and packed more than 50 large bin bags
> Notable Pantai Hill resort absentees – The Shorea and Awanmulan
> Big Thank You to all who participated<<View the full report here>>

We realise that this website may be damaging to your business. We also realise that not all resorts behave in a similar fashion. Our intentions are clearly spelled out in the<<‘Resort Section of this website’>>. Please do review it again.

The articles that we post here are – to our very best knowledge and intention – the truth. Potential visitors to Pantai Hill may be alerted of things and issues that they may be unaware of. It may help them make decisions, it may illuminate the ‘Politics’ happening on the hill, it may eventually assist them in forming personal opinions of Pantai Hill and its band of resort operators. (No one should act as they like and get away with it)

This is what the internet and crowd sourcing is all about… Isn’t it? – To inform and allow people to make better decisions and spread the knowledge to friends and family. Inevitably this information also exposes unscrupulous individuals and entities who take advantage of society at large for personal gains. We at pantaihillwatch.org are not interested in ‘catching’ or ‘bad mouthing’ anyone. We are only interested in preserving Pantai Hill’s environment and the rights of its residents to have a peaceful enjoyment of their own homes.

Is this request so unreasonable to ask???
To some resorts, the answer is Yes – if this request impedes and restricts the potential of resort operators to continue operating in its current configuration and if its expansion plans are challenged.

We respect the universal law concerning the ‘freedom of individual choice’. As such, we do not threaten, we do not beg and we do not put anyone under duress. We leave it to the ‘UNIVERSE’ with the aid of truthful reporting.

This website does not need to be filled with demoralising pictures of rubbish and trash, of discontent and dispute and of irresponsible behaviour. It can be positive, clean and beautiful. It can be about the ‘privileged people on the hill’ helping the less fortunate below. It can be filled with stories of cooperation, collaboration, of social giving and of non-competition. It can even help promote responsible and sustainable tourism.

Once again, we ask for your cooperation, to come and have a dialogue with us. To work things out, to work on the<<‘Community Agreement’>>that The Dusun first proposed and to make Pantai Hill a sustainable place for all.

As for potential and returning Pantai Hill visitors reading this post, we hope that this appeals to your conscience, and that you may urge your favourite resort operator to respect this request and to personally – make good decisions that are in-line with the serenity, tranquility and beauty that you love so much about Pantai Hill. <<Please take a look at our Visitor Guidelines>>

Dear resort operators, we live in an increasingly inter-connected world. One cannot possibly hope to continue on a path which benefits oneself at the expense of the people around you. The wrath of the ‘UNIVERSE’ may come back several fold. So as they say – the choice is yours 🙂

“Behaviour is the mirror in which everyone shows their image” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This is part of our efforts to involve and engage local leaders of Kampung Pantai Baru. Both Mustafa and Mokhtar are active leaders who are ready to receive any feedback or complaints regarding social issues that arise. Mokhtar is always available at the local post-office stand (in Kampung Pantai Baru) from 8.30am onwards Monday to Sunday. (best time to catch him is early in the morning)

Pantai Hill Orchard Resort and its residents fall under the jurisdiction of Kampung Baru Pantai, we would like to introduce these men to all residents on the hill and also to visitors of Pantai Hill. As they say, a picture can say a thousand words…now you know who and where to meet them for anything of concern during your visits.

These men are elected by the state government and their posts lasts for 3 years before the next change. They head a committee of 15 local representatives who have meetings on development, security and social matters once a month. They have indicated that they will give full support in helping and liaising with the local Police concerning issues raised by Pantaihillwatch.org

Several Malaysian media outlets both online and print versions have highlighted amazing getaways in Malaysia. It is great to know that resorts from Pantai Hill have been featured in these publications. For the media to recognise and highlight these Seremban getaways, it shows that Pantai Hill does genuinely offer a valued getaway destination.

However, we would like to add our (resident) opinions to what these media outlets have perhaps missed out in their quick and short description of such vacation destinations.

Peaceful Getaways in Malaysia

Published by: The Edge Travel Focus

Here is what they said:

Tired of congested tourist spots?Here are some off-the-beaten-track destinations where you can de-stress and rejuvenate…Several retreat bungalows and boutique hotels such as The Dusun, Awanmulan and The Shorea, offer visitors spectacular views of majestic trees and mountains.

We don’t have a problem with publications promoting ‘off-the-beaten-track destinations’. However, certain resort operators are not conscious of – the impact of their operations on the surrounding environment. When capitalist oriented individuals sell out to – the ‘Priority of Profit’, such mentality overpowers community well being. This is exactly the kind of irresponsible behaviour that destroys relationships with local community and worst, destroys the very place that is suppose to bring a ‘Peaceful Getaway’. (This is the most common result of how places of natural beauty gets destroyed, all over the world)

They featured 6 destinations in different states. What they failed to recognise is the difference in actual operational status of each resort/hotel destination. Ones in Ipoh, KL, Penang, Melaka and Serendah are proper commercial outlets with hotel licences. The Shorea, featured under Seremban does not have such an operational license and worst still The Shorea’s operations in-fringes on the comfort and peace of their neighbours – partly because of how they have built their structures and how they ignore noise complaints by their neighbours.

Here is what they said:

The Shorea – Built within a tropical forest reserve, the resort is an appreciation of nature itself. Build mostly from recycled shorea timber, it’s a great place for some R&R with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

We can’t blame femalemag for doing so (because how would they know?). In our experience we find that The Shorea does not appreciate nature. Owners of The Shorea do not respect their surroundings and do not respect nature and they have had multiple run-ins with neighbours regarding water drainage, water usage, water preservation, rubbish disposal in nature, noise, building materials spillage and trash.

…family-owned business, which was started over 30 years ago, seeks to promote sustainable farming and jungle conservation…There are five houses — Berembun, Emas, Sora, Perling and Tembusu, which combine elements of Malay and orang asli architecture….This is a perfect spot to marvel at nature, whether a waterfall or the beautiful hills. There are several swimming spots as well as jungle trekking and guided walks to experience kampung life.

We find this short reporting by the star to be fairly accurate. This family owned resort were the pioneers of resort business on Pantai Hill and have lived up to their ‘kampung life and jungle conservation’ attributes. They have always responded well to community needs and have earned the respect from the orang Asli community they employ. Residents on Pantai Hill do not have a problem dealing with them.

Located on the hills hidden deep in the heart of Negeri Sembilan, The Shorea was built in a tropical forest reserve, making it an exclusively tranquil place to spend your honeymoon. If you and your spouse are nature lovers or you seeking for some peaceful rejuvenation, probably even a taste of Balinese honeymoon away from the crowd in Malaysia, this is the ideal forest getaway.

If you are a honeymoon couple looking for a tranquil place, we doubt that The Shorea will give you tranquility and peaceful rejuvenation they claim. The reason we say this is because as residents, what we have often observed large group bookings into The Shorea. If you read reviews from Tripadvisor.com.my you will find that people complain about how close their ‘Villas’ (which are actually- small rooms) are to each other and if you are a couple on honeymoon, it is certainly not a choice spot for you.

AwanMulan is a cozy family run retreat located in Negeri Sembilan. Above the hills, and amidst the clouds, it’s not only a romantic getaway, but a perfect stop for family or friends

We do agree that Awanmulan is a cozy family run resort. And especially during rainy days there are many misty pockets in the hills around. In our opinion, it is a great place for family and friends only if the numbers are kept low. Just like The Shorea, Awanmulan is located on a residential hill. There are neighbours close by. Due to the open architecture plans favoured by residents on the hill – sound travels intact and easily reaches into the homes of others. Unlike The Shorea owners, the Awanmulan family have left their doors a little open for negotiation and do respond when taken to task. They are also quite professional in their dealings. Our message to Awanmulan is to please watch your numbers so the noise does not put a bad mark on your operations. To potential guests please regulate yourself – noise penetrates deep and we can hear almost every word (although muffled from time to time).

A nature lover’s dream, the well-hidden property is mainly constructed using recycled shorea timber (hence its name)… Staff at The Shorea are known for their personalised service – city-dwelling families and couples looking for a relaxing forest retreat will not be disappointed.

We have already highlighted issues regarding The Shorea’s behaviour and it’s standing within the local community of Pantai Hill above. However, visitors to The Shorea will be rudely shocked, that for such a beautiful location that it commands, the owners have ‘overbuilt’. If visitors come today, you will observe a large unsightly construction going on behind the resort. When completed, this add on wing will make The Shorea into a large concrete building with water features that will heavily impose on Pantai Hill’s water demands. <<Take a look at what they are building>>

Leaking pipe in front of Chandran’s house. Milan helps us out. This pipe laid more than 10 years ago has been frequently leaking at various points.

Despite the ‘Cold War’ being waged on the hill, maintenance of essential infrastructure still continues. This particular stretch of water pipe has been leaking at various points. Another quick fix for now, but eventually we need to change the entire section of this pipe.